Tag Archives: tips

active listening
01
Oct
Tips

Active Listening: Techniques and Examples to Practice it At Work

Posted on by Daniela Pineda

Active listening is much more than just listening; it is defined as a communication strategy that puts empathy into practice.  In addition to paying attention to what the person is telling us, it also involves paying attention to their emotions, ideas, and thoughts that underlie the main message. The listener should demonstrate that they have understood what the other wants to share.

Active listening is put into practice by paying attention to the message before taking action. Sometimes when we are told something, we react too quickly.: instead of paying close attention to them, we focus our attention on our response..

How to put active listening into practice at the workplace:

  • It is essential  the  person feels listened to, cared for and free to express themselves. A conscious effort on your part is required to pay attention.
  • It is not about pretending to be attentive or interested, it is about really allowing ourselves to listen to the other, giving them space.
  • Active listening is about building a sense of trust, closeness and being safe.
  • Learn to interpret non-verbal language  such as body language.
  • Active listening avoids automatic responses and making judgments, and it is not about pretending to be a psychologist for others – it does not imply or seek to give advice.
  • When we listen to the other person, we may not like what they are telling us; however, active listening is about allowing them to express themselves without feeling judged. Reproaches should also be avoided.
  • It is essential not to interrupt the other person; questions should  help them express themselves  to a greater extent.
  • You may repeat or paraphrase the other person’s ideas so that they know that you  understand them.  do not change the nuance of what was said or use it to try and read between the lines.
  • Assume a physical posture that lets the other know that you are willing to listen.

Why should we practice active listening at the workplace?

Here are some of the benefits of active listening in the workplace:

  • Improves communication in work teams , in addition to taking into account the emotional and human side of professional relationships.
  • Allows establishing relationships of trust in the work team.
  • Prevents misunderstandings.
  • Motivates others by making them feel heard.
  • Allows everyone to participate in continuous improvement.
How to manage pending work
15
Sep
Tips

Tips to Manage Your Pending Work

Posted on by Daniela Pineda

It is not uncommon for work to accumulate and then it becomes  an endless list of pending tasks. It is worlds apart from getting done with your daily workload and feeling productive. Procrastinating allows projects to pile up and you feel like the to-do list only gets bigger..

This can become  a problem when larger processes or tasks begin to be delayed, or when other teammates or collaborators cannot complete their own tasks in a timely manner, thus affecting various parts of the work structure.

Here are some tips and ideas that will help you finish your pending work and be more productive.

How to get done with your pending work list

Prioritize tasks and solve the most difficult ones first

It is essential to prioritize the list of pending tasks and establish which ones require the most immediate attention. Try to dedicate your first working hours to these tasks and avoid procrastinating.

Accept your abilities and face challenges

Sometimes, we avoid tackling difficult tasks we believe “this is not the right time”, or perhaps those that are too complicated, or that require a learning process.  At other times, the opposite happens: certain tasks seem so simple that we simply forget about them, since they do not require our immediate attention.

Addressing these tasks as small or big challenges can make a great difference when it comes to forgetting a pending task or not.

Say no to multitasking

Some people mix the idea of ​​being highly productive with multitasking. Contrary to popular belief, addressing several tasks at the same time does not make processes easier or faster; in fact, it delays them and is not effective.

Perform one task at a time and always try to finish it before starting another, that way the workload will be managed effectively.

Avoid unnecessary social distractions

If you’re on task, it’s best to stay away from your phone’s notifications, from replying to work conversations, or other distractions. Turn off or put away your phone, and choose a different time to check messages that would otherwise delay you.

Learn to take breaks

You can take breaks during your working day; these should be short and allow you to disconnect for about 5 minutes. These are not 5 minutes so you can check your social networks, but to relax, to take a moment for yourself, and to be able to focus again on your work.